Advocacy

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At the Pasteur Foundation, supporting transatlantic collaboration is at the core of what we do. We believe that health is global: pathogens do not respect borders, scientific progress depends on open exchange, and the protection of human life requires international cooperation grounded in evidence and ethics. As the U.S. partner of the Institut Pasteur and its global network, the Pasteur Foundation engages in advocacy efforts that defend science, strengthen global health systems, and promote responsible innovation. At a moment when scientific consensus is increasingly challenged and public investment in health research is under strain, we work to ensure that rigorous science continues to inform policy, funding decisions, and public understanding. Our advocacy focuses on some of the most pressing emerging threats to global health today:

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[toggles style=”minimal” accordion=”true” accordion_starting_functionality=”default”][toggle color=”Default” heading_tag=”default” heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Countering Misinformation”][nectar_responsive_text inherited_font_style=”default” text_direction=”default”]The spread of health misinformation undermines public trust, weakens prevention efforts, and puts lives at risk. Vaccination, in particular, remains one of the most effective public health interventions in history—yet it is increasingly targeted by disinformation campaigns that contradict decades of scientific evidence. The Pasteur Foundation supports efforts to defend scientific truth, amplify evidence-based research, and ensure that public discourse reflects established facts rather than ideology. In alignment with the Institut Pasteur, we stand firmly for science that is transparent, reproducible, and communicated responsibly to the public [/nectar_responsive_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” heading_tag=”default” heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness”][nectar_responsive_text inherited_font_style=”default” text_direction=”default”]The COVID19 pandemic demonstrated—at immense human cost—that pandemic
preparedness is not optional. Emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial
resistance, and zoonotic spillover continue to pose systemic risks to global stability and health security. We advocate for sustained international investment in biomedical research, early warning systems, and global coordination mechanisms. Effective preparedness requires long
term funding, cross-border collaboration, and strong scientific institutions—all of which are foundational to the work of the Institut Pasteur and its worldwide network [/nectar_responsive_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” heading_tag=”default” heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Responsible Governance of Emerging Biotechnologies (Mirror Life)”][nectar_responsive_text inherited_font_style=”default” text_direction=”default”]Scientific innovation brings extraordinary promise—but also unprecedented
responsibility. Advances in synthetic biology, including the theoretical creation of “mirror life,” raise profound ethical, ecological, and security questions.

The Pasteur Foundation supports responsible science governance, informed by global dialogue and precaution. In 2025, the Institut Pasteur convened leading scientists, ethicists, and policymakers from over 30 countries to assess the risks associated with mirror life. The conclusion was clear: based on current evidence, the risks far outweigh any plausible benefits, and international governance is urgently needed to prevent irreversible harm.

We advocate for international cooperation, transparency, and restraint—ensuring that innovation advances human health without endangering it.[/nectar_responsive_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” heading_tag=”default” heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Protecting Public Funding for Global Health and Research”][nectar_responsive_text inherited_font_style=”default” text_direction=”default”]Public funding remains a cornerstone of scientific progress and global health equity. Yet today, biomedical research and international health programs face growing financial and political pressures that threaten decades of progress.

The Pasteur Foundation advocates for sustained and equitable investment in global health research, recognizing that cuts to public funding weaken collective preparedness, slow innovation, and disproportionately affect the worldʼs most vulnerable populations. Protecting science funding is not only a moral imperative —it is a strategic necessity in an interconnected world[/nectar_responsive_text][/toggle][/toggles]